Britax B-Free Review

As the name says, Britax B-Free was made to let parents be free to do much more with their stroller.

You don’t want a stroller that will slow you down and limit you, right?

This one was designed to give parents flexibility and make their life easier and more convenient. How will it manage to accomplish this task? This stroller has 3-wheel design to provide excellent agility and maneuverability and large canopy for full sun protection.

Have you ever had to decide how many snacks or toys you can bring or if the blanket willfit in, because there was so little storage space in your old stroller?

With Britax B-Free you can forget about this problem, because you will find a room for EVERYTHING! It has plenty of storage space so you could take with you all of the stuff you could ever need.

Let’s take a closer look at the Britax B-Free features.

Seat & Weight Limit

The new Britax B-Free has roomy seat with a large maximum capacity. It can accommodate baby up to 65 lbs. This is truly impressive! Moreover, the seat back is 20” high. This means Britax B-Free is also a stroller for big toddler or older child.

Most of the full-sized everyday stroller has weight limit of 50 or 55 lbs, bigger capacity (like B-Free has) we can actually see only on joggers! With such a high weight limit we have the ability to use Britax B-Free for a longer period.

The seat features multi-position recline. Although it doesn’t go all the way down, the lowest position is almost flat. Definitely suitable for napping on the go.

Thanks to infinite recline you can adjust the position to your baby’s mood and preferences

To recline the seat you just need to pull the buckle on the back of the seat – you can do it with one hand. You can stop at any position you want because this is an infinite recline. To raise the seat you will need to use two hands to pull both straps.

There is also adjustable calf rest and 5-point harness that can be adjusted as the baby grows. The seat has nice, soft padding, the fabric is actually textured and breathable (!) – all to provide the most comfortable ride for the child.

PRO TIP: Although the manufacturer says we can use the main seat from birth, I would rather recommend you to wait few months until your baby has better neck and head control and sits up, because this stroller doesn’t features truly flat recline.

It is exactly the same recline angle like in B-Agile 3 – so some parents put their newborns in it, some wait until the baby can sit. In my opinion, it is better to use it as a travel system through these first few months and transport the newborn in the car seat.

Canopy

This is one of the best features of Britax B-Free. It has enormous canopy! It is expandable thanks to a hidden zipper. When the sunshade is fully extended it covers baby all the way down, so the only thing that sticks out are the feet!

This is one of the biggest canopies on the market!

It protects baby from UV rays, wind and rain. I only wish the fabric on canopy was more rigid, anyway, I’m glad it has SPF.

There is also a mesh peek-a-boo window which allows you to see through and provides nice extra air-flow. Another big plus for Britax B-Free for silent magnetic closure on this window (we all know how annoying Velcro closure is!).

Just unzip the canopy for maximum shield

Overall this oversized canopy is fantastic! It protects baby from sun rays and overheating simultaneously.

Handlebar

The stroller is equipped with 6-position adjustable handlebar. If we want to set it higher or lower we just need to rotate it up or down.

Although I prefer extendable telescoping handlebars, this one is also great and nice to have because parents usually share the stroller with other people (for example grandparents) who are shorter or taller.

Britax B-Free has not only adjustable calf rest but also adaptable handlebar

Thanks to adjustable handlebar you can easily change the handlebar height. The grip is comfortable which makes pushing more convenient.

Wheels

This is the first stroller from Britax that has 3-wheel design with single front wheel. Generally speaking such a construction makes stroller more nimble and maneuverable. Going through tight spaces and corners is much easier which such a design.

3-wheel construction gives the stroller ultimate maneuverability

The wheels have all-terrain rubber tires. Thanks to them you don’t have to worry about having flat tire and inflating every few weeks, but you can still enjoy smooth ride.

Front wheel swivels which gives the stroller more agility. We can also lock this wheel when going over rough terrain, it will make stroller more stable.

Swivel and lockable front wheel

Brakes

Britax B-Free stroller is equipped with single-action brake, located next to the right wheel. You just press it down to engage it and then lift it up to unlock the wheels.

It’s very easy to do, no matter if you’re wearing sandals, flip flops, sneakers or high heels. And you don’t have to worry about your shoes getting hurt 😉 This brake is placed in a convenient spot.

Storage Space

This is definitely the best part of Britax B-Free: awesome, large storage space.

Imagine this situation:

You want to go for a shopping or run some errands with your baby and you are getting ready to go out. You try to squeeze your diaper bag to the stroller basket, but it won’t fit in, so you have to take out few things. While you are deciding which toy you can leave at home or if the blanket is really need, your baby is getting impatient.

Eventually you are ready to go, with few diapers and toys less and no weather shield, because it looks like it’s going to be a sunny day.

You’re finally in the mall and your baby is crying because he wants his favorite bunny. But it turns out, the bunny stayed at home, when you were repacking your diaper bag. Baby is crying aloud, people are throwing angry looks at you. At this point you know you won’t get your things done.

Of course on the way home it starts to rain and you don’t have the cover, because you COULDN’T take everything.

This sounds familiar? You’ve experienced this with your old stroller? NO MORE problems like this!

With Britax B-Free you will be able to bring everything you want, no matter if you’re going for a short walk or day trip.

It has not only a HUGE basket under the seat but also SEVEN additional storage pockets! There’s more room for your baby gear than you can imagine. You don’t believe it? Take a look at this picture and count it.

All pockets on Britax B-Free

There is something that looks like a parent organizer on the handlebar with large zippered pocket (for a wallet for example) and two smaller open pouches where you can put your bottle of water or a phone and keys. Thanks it them you can keep your belongings within reach.

In the storage basket we have additional zippered mesh storage where we can put our valuables.

There are also two pockets on each side inside the seat, so the baby could keep the juice box, some snacks or favorite toy at hand. The seventh zippered pocket is hidden under the calf rest!

Wanna hide some of your belongings? Here’s the perfect spot!

The underseat basket is one of the biggest I’ve seen on the market. You will fit there a large diaper bag, a blanket, spare cloths for your baby, large bottle of water and few other things you’ll come up with. The fabric on the basket is not stiff and extends a little bit.

This storage is easily accessible from the back – there is a spring-loaded bar so the rear part even bends down for easier access and it also keeps your things safely inside. We can also access the bin from the front, we just need to lift the calf rest.

You have access to the basket from the back and front

Thanks to so many storage places you are free to take ALL of your essentials and stay longer on the go.

Travel System

Britax gives us two option: we can buy the B-Free Stroller or B-Free Travel System with one of Britax car seats. It’s up to you which solution you choose.

Even if you choose to buy only the stroller it will come with Click & Go receivers which are compatible with all Britax infant car seats (B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, B-Safe Ultra and Endeavours). Thanks to these included adapters you have the flexibility to add the infant car seat later, whenever you need it. You can change your mind anytime. 🙂

Britax B-Free includes Click&Go adapters so you can add the car seat whenever you need to

This is great thing that the car seat receivers are included and you don’t have to pay extra money for them!

Britax B-Free Travel System

You can also buy this stroller with infant car seat at once. I checked on Amazon and B-Free Travel System is available for example with B-Safe Ultra or B-Safe 35 infant car seat. I’ve written more about Britax car seats in this article, so here I will only mention the main features.

Britax B-Free Travel System costs a little over $600

B-Safe 35 has a shape of a shell and offers Side Impact Protection and SafeCell Impact-Absorbing Base. All to absorb the energy during a collision and reduce its impact on the baby. You can read more about this car seat safety features on its Amazon page here.

The car seat base is easy to install in the car thanks to latch system.

The infant car seat is equipped with removable infant head support to keep the smallest babies securely in place and additionally provide comfort.

Britax B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat

Another noteworthy safety feature is the 5-point restrain which can be adjusted as the baby gets bigger. Shoulder pads are nicely padded with soft fabric – adequate for infant delicate skin.

There is also large canopy that protects your little one from sun and wind. When the infant car seat is attached to the stroller, you can use both sun shades to provide your baby with maximum cover.

You can use Britax B-Free from birth with an infant car seat

The B-Safe 35 is suitable for infants from 4 to 35 lbs and up to 32’’. The seat weighs only 10 lbs, which makes it one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. The base (which can stay installed in your car) weighs 9 lbs.

What other parents think about B-Safe 35?

When I buy another piece of baby gear for my kiddos I always check what other parents say out this product. I checked B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat on Britax official website.

Parents highly rate its ease of use and the level of protection it offers. They also like its appearance. Taking baby in and out of the infant car seat is very easy. Also, snapping the car seat in and out of the base and stroller is simple and you don’t need to wiggle it into place.

Moreover, parents praise the customer service, some of them mention how Britax was very helpful and fixed the problem immediately.

Folding

Britax B-Free features quick and easy one-hand fold. This brand knows how the typical mom’s day look like. Baby in one hand and all other things done with other hand. Moms don’t have two hands free often!

So this stroller was designed with this thing in mind. Mommy can hold her little bundle of joy in one hand and fold the B-Free easily with other hand. This folding mechanism is also convenient for grandparents.

Be free to carry the baby in one hand and the stroller in the other!

How does the folding system work? We just need to push one button and the pull the strap hidden in the middle of the seat. It’s a piece of cake.

After folding this stroller is pretty flat which simplifies storage in home and transportation in car trunk. Or using the public transportation. Folding dimensions (with wheels on) are: 32″ L x 24″ W x 15″ H, so it’s very similar to B-Agile 3.

There is also an automatic lock that prevents the stroller from opening. Before we unfold the stroller, we need to undo the lock. You can fold the stroller while standing, but opening requires bending.

Weight & Size

Britax B-Free can be a stroller for big kid

All Britax full-sized strollers are pretty light and easy to carry. B-Free is no different. It weighs only 22 lbs which means you can easily lift it to put in the car trunk or carry up and down the stairs. It is 4 lbs heavier than Britax B-Agile 3, but 6 lbs lighter than Britax B-Ready 2017.

Color Versions

Britax B-Free is available in three fashions: Frost (black with blue elements), Midnight (all black) and Pewter (black with grey elements). My favorite is Frost version, it looks simple but stylish at the same time.

Accessories

Apart from the car seat adapters and additional pockets, this stroller doesn’t have any accessories included. Good thing is that it has HUGE storage space so you probably won’t need any additional parent organizer or bag. It’s also good that this stroller has pocket inside the seat where baby can keep a sippy cup and some snack, since there is no child tray.

However, if you would like to have some extra items for convenience like cup holder, weather cover or travel bag – you will need to purchase them separately.

I know that nowadays strollers rarely include accessories and in most cases parents need to spend extra money on them. However, Britax B-Free is not the cheapest stroller so I wish it comes with convenience items included.

So, the pockets are a big advantage. No cup holder or child tray – this is a disadvantage.

What Other Parents Think About Britax B-Free

Britax B-Free stroller doesn’t have many reviews on Amazon. Parents praise it mostly for quick and easy folding, convenient pushing and large storage space.

This is one of the most popular brand in the U.S. so I’m pretty sure it will quickly become parents’ favorite and soon there will be more reviews.

You can also check on your own if there are any new comments on this stroller.

Keep In Mind

1. This stroller doesn’t come with accessories like cup holder, child tray or weather shield. If you want, you can purchase them separately.

2. All-terrain wheels handle dirt and unbeaten roads, but the ride is less cushioned than with air-filled tires.

3. The seat doesn’t feature fully flat recline (the only position suitable for newborns). In my opinion the main seat is rather design for 3 or even 6-month-old child. So during first months you need to use the stroller with infant car seat.

10 Reasons Why You Will Love It

1. You will have the possibility to pack in the stroller everything you might ever need, because it has awesome large basket and SEVEN storage pockets!

2. B-Free has one of the biggest canopies in the market which will allow you to avoid sunburns! You can be sure that even on hot summer days, your child is protected from harmful sun rays from head to toe. And thanks to breathable seat fabrics and mesh window in the canopy your baby is prevented from overheating.

3. This stroller has pretty large wheels with rubberized tires which can handle cracked sidewalks, cobblestone or gravel and grass in the park. So the ride is smooth and you don’t have to worry about having flat tire. And you have the flexibility to go wherever you want.

4. You are shorter/taller thank your spouse? Or grandparents are at different height? Don’t worry! This stroller is comfortable to push for everyone thanks to adjustable handlebar.

5. The stroller comes with adapters for infant car seat, so you don’t have to pay extra for them.

6. The seat has multi-position recline which is perfect for babies who like to nap on the go.

8. Maximum capacity of 65 lbs allows you to use the B-Free for a longer period of time and makes it a stroller for older/bigger kid.

9. Folding is one-hand and easy to do and the whole stroller is pretty light – easy to lift to put in the car or to carry. It’s also perfect choice for grandparents’stroller.

10. You have the flexibility to buy only the stroller with car seat adapters (and add the infant car seat later) or buy the whole travel system at once. B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat is one of the best and safest in the U.S.

Sneak peek on Britax B-Free – Video

Britax B-Free Review Conclusion – Final Assessment & Best Application

In my opinion Britax B-Free is perfect choice for parents who are often out and about with their kid, and want something that is fully-featured and has compact fold that easily fits into car trunk.

With such a HUGE storage space you can go for a day trip or overnight visit to grandparents and take ALL necessary baby gear.

This stroller is perfect for going to the mall, running quick errands, trips to the ZOO or any road trip. With Britax B-free you really can be free to do so much more with your baby!

My rate:

Do you like Britax B-Free? Before you decide to buy it check available discounts and read what other parents say about it on Amazon.

Hi! The B-Lively is very similar to the B-Agile model which means it is more like a city stroller. It really depends on your needs and preferences whether the B-Free or B-Lively will suit you better. But generally speaking I prefer the B-Free because it’s more versatile and has better wheels which make it suitable for more types of terrain (not only flat sidewalks ;). I also love the storage options on B-Free, it’s really awesome to have the parent organizer included and so many pockets at hand. Another thing that I find better on B-Free is the larger canopy and generous padding on the seat. Besides, it’s only 2 lbs heavier than B-Lively which I think is a small price for so many additional features.

Hi there and sorry for late reply! Both car seats are really awesome and quite similar. I’ve been a fan of B-Safe 35 for many years, but now I can tell that in my opinion The Endeavours model is better equipped. It has some additional safety features like 2 layers of side protection and included anti-rebound bar. But unfortunately it’s also more heavy 🙁 It weighs 11.5 lbs, while the standard B-Safe 35 is 10 lbs.

Hi Rachel! There should be 3 holes in the backrest padding and you need to put the harness straps through them to adjust the shoulder straps height. You need to go to the back of the stroller and there is a retainer (right next to the straps that you use for reclining the seat or right behind the backrest padding), you have to move it forward to take it out and then put it again through the lower or higher slot.
Each strap can be also tighten or loosen, just the a backpack straps.
You can also check the user guide on Britax website with some useful drawings 🙂 https://us.britax.com/b-free-strollers/

Hi Michelle!
Britax B-Free is great choice if you need more versatile stroller that handles also slightly rougher terrain. It has rubberized tires which work really nice on small bumps and cracks and 3-wheel design makes this stroller more nimble.
City Tour LUX is more like a “city” stroller, generally speaking it works best on flat surfaces. Its smaller wheels are not that great for gravel or bumps. But this stroller is definitely better if you often use public transportation, travel by train or have small car trunk. The fold is compact and easy to store (although B-Free fold is not cumbersome either!) 🙂

Other differences you should consider:
-B-Free has weight limit of 65 lbs (long-term use) while City Tour LUX has limit of 45 lbs
-Only the City Tour LUX allow you to attach a carrycot for newborn baby (something to keep in mind if you plan long walks during first months), as well as a standing board for older sibling
-When you attach infant car seat to the B-Free stroller, it goes onto the toddler seat (you don’t remove it). This means the stroller + infant car seat is heavier. City Tour LUX allow you to detach the regular seat unit first and attach the car seat onto the frame (it’s a lighter option).
-B-Free is about 2.5 lbs heavier – consider this if you’re going to carry your stroller often.
-B-Free is much easier to fold, has LOTS of storage space (including big basket underneath the seat) and really great canopy that gives more shade than LUX canopy.
-B-Free has height-adjustable handlebar which may be useful if mom and dad differ in height

Do you know if there are adapters available to use different car seats? I heard that the B-Safe 35 Elite, due to its high safety, is quite narrow and big babies will grow out of it much quickly (4–6 months). I want the ease of the complete travel system but I would like the car seat to last at least a year. Thoughts? I was thinking of the Chicco KeyFit 30 zip but cannot find adapters.

Hi Amanda! Britax B-Free is not compatible with Chicco car seats (they don’t make proper adapters). If you worry that B-Safe 35 Elite won’t serve you very long, you may want to check other car seats compatible with B-Free. There is an adapter (check it here) that allows to attach Maxi Cosi Prezi, Maxi Cosi AP, Nuna Pipa, Cybex Aton, Cybex Aton 2 and Cybex Aton Q to Britax B-Free. From these 6 models I can recommend you Cybex Aton 2 which is very light – only 9 lbs (you can see it here). It can be used up to 32 lbs and 30 inches. I’ve read that some parents have used it for 10 or even 13 months, depending on how fast baby grows. This infant car seat has bucket shape and it’s quite deep and has some inserts that you can remove as the baby grows to make more room for him. It has also great safety features and passed many safety test with really high score. There is one thing that you should keep in mind with Aton 2 (and any other deep car seat) – baby should be dressed lightly to prevent him from sweating 🙂
Generally speaking most of the car seats are suitable up to 30-35 lbs and 30-32 inches and unfortunately in most of the cases baby grows out it at 6-9 months, rarely 10-13 months. B-Safe 35 Elite is narrow, the regular B-Safe 35 is a bit more roomy but I’ve read it usually serves parents up to 7-9 months.

My britax seat lasted me longer than any other, for my large and chunky child. My only complaint was that its quite a deep seat, so when he was very very little, it was hard to dig him out. After about 3 months, it got easier to get him in and out and he rode in it until he was 13 months and 29 inches tall. For comparison, he outgrew our Nuna Pipa ( that I got for its portability and dream drape canopy) after 7 months 🙁

B-Free and City Mini GT have some similar features. They are both great for city use, they can be turned into travel system, thanks to 3-wheel design they are agile and easy to maneuver, they have rotating handlebars for parents of different heights and similar weight (B-Free – 22lbs, City Mini GT – 22.5 lbs). The prices are also similar (for the strollers and travel systems).
However there are some significant differences.

B-Free has much bigger storage basket and 7 additional pockets. Unfortunately City Mini GT basket is not very spacious. You will be able to fit a large diaper bag in B-Free basket, but only a medium-sized bag on City Mini GT. So when it comes to storage space B-Free wins.

City Mini GT has better wheels and suspension. The wheels on City Mini GT have really thick tires (non-inflatable) that can handle cobblestone, grass and unbeaten roads – so this stroller is not only for city use, but it’s also great for occasional trips outside the city. If there are a lot of cracked sidewalks and gravel paths in your neighborhood or you are going to use the stroller on country roads I would recommend you City Mini GT. The suspension will absorb shocks and your baby will have more smooth ride. B-Free also handles uneven terrain, but it bounces a bit more.

Both strollers feature super easy folding, but City Mini GT is smaller when folded. It’s only few inches, but if you have a small car or apartment those few inches will matter 🙂

City Mini GT can be used also with a carrycot, B-Free doesn’t have that option. Both strollers are equipped with regular seats, suitable for babies who can sit upright. The seats have nice padding, but B-Free has a little bit softer fabrics.

B-Free has footbrake, City Mini GT has handbrake. Both are easy to use, but the latter one is of course flip flop friendly. Which one will be more convenient for you depends on your preferences 🙂

Last thing – the canopy. Both models have really generous canopies, that’s a huge advantage. The canopy on B-Free extends even a bit further than City Mini GT’s. B-Free has one peek-a-boo window with magnetic closure, while City Mini GT has 2 windows but with Velcro closure which is a bit loud. The amount of shade is similar for both canopies, but I prefer the peek-a-boo window on B-Free.

To sum up: I think B-Free wins when it comes to storage options, seat padding and peek-a-boo window. However City Mini GT has smaller fold, better wheels and suspension which provide softer ride and can handle more types of terrain.
Both stroller can be used with infant car seat, but City Mini GT is additionally compatible with a carrycot for newborn baby.

No, Britax B-Free is not designed for running with baby (it would be unsafe and uncomfortable, since there shock absorption is minimum and the tires are not air-filled).
If you’re looking for a jogging stroller please check my ranking here 🙂

Not sure if this question will make sense, but I am wondering about stability when using pocket. If you use the storage on the top handle, is there a possibility of it getting too heavy and falling over backwards?

Hi Vicky,
The storage pockets on the handlebar work a bit like a parent console. I’m not sure what is the weight limit, but you definitely can’t put there anything heavy (besides these pockets are not that big:)). I would say it’s a perfect place for keeping phone, wallet or a small bottle of water at hand.
My advice, no matter which stroller you use, is not to hang anything heavy on the handlebar as it always increases the risk of falling backwards. Use it only for small items and necessities 🙂

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